Edmund Morison Wimperis (England, 1835-1900) RI
‘Beach at Newlyn, Cornwall, 1887’
watercolour
(sight) 9 1/2″ high x 13 3/4″ wide
(framed) 20″ high x 20 3/4″ wide
Notes: Uncommon coastal watercolour titled ‘Beach at Newlyn, Cornwall,” by noted British artist Edmund Morison Wimperis (1835-1900) RI, dated 1887. Wimperis aspired to investigate the medium of watercolour beyond what Ruskin called, “potted art, of an agreeable flavor, suppliable and taxable as a patented commodity.” Although he trained under Birket Foster it was the earlier innovations of David Cox that set his painting free. Initially trained as an Illustration artist working in meticulous engraving techniques he gradually evolved a fusion of minutely painted details incorporated through open application. This is a prime example of the best Wimperis has to offer.
Description: In this painting, the viewer finds themselves, as the artist, along the southern Coast of Cornwall, on the beach, amongst the pools formed at low-tide. Directly ahead local fishermen are going about their daily business loading and unloading catch from their boats, as Wimperis was unassumingly capturing the event en-plein-air. Further on, the huddled boats and cluster of grey-roofed houses can be seen against the hillside through the sea infused air. The clouds are built up and permeate the landscape as substantially as the fishermen, being every bit part of the subject – this is Newlyn: fishing port, seaside town, artist colony, England.
Beyond sentimentality Wimperis paints, as Cox with, “simple sincerity” an observation of place. The moment saturated with life as a reality, buoyant on the spirit of the earth as well as the people. As his son reminisced about his love affair with clouds, “[he] could endure of long, without some mild form of malediction, the uninterrupted reign of unveiled sunshine.”
Markings: monogrammed and dated lower right, “EMW 87”; original label verso of frame, “Coast of Cornwall / 83Fc / E. M. Wimperis” (this was removed when the picture was opened for inspection; it has been saved and will be included with purchase); titled verso, “On the Beach Newlyn, / Cornwall.”
Condition: Very Good Vintage Condition – very little age wear, only what is expected on such an item; presented behind glass with original matt and frame. There is some even toning to the matt and extremely light toning to the picture; the picture was attached to the matt when framed by a previous owner many years ago. The colours remain strong and true and the signature clear.
